Honorary Ambassador
The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG, President Yang-ho Cho) appointed Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin as an Honorary Ambassador on Nov. 26th, in Seoul, Korea.
Ryu Hyun-jin will take part in PyeongChang’s numerous promotional activities on the official website as well as on the SNS channels. He will also attend PyeongChang’s promotional events that will take place in the United States.
At the official press conference, POCOG President Yang-ho Cho addressed, “As a world-class athlete, Ryu’s participation will be a great asset to magnify public interest and awareness about the upcoming Winter Games in 2018.”
Ryu also commented, “The Olympic Games is a great opportunity to inspire dreams and hopes for the next generation of athletes. I will do my very best to attract the sports fans’ interest and participation in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.”
Ryu Hyun-jin became famous with Korean baseball fans for his outstanding performances on the baseball diamond. In 2008, Ryu Hyun-jin competed for the South Korean national baseball team at the Beijing Olympics, where the team won the gold medal. In the team’s third game of round-robin play, Ryu pitched a 1-0 complete game shutout victory over Canada with 13 strike-out records. Also, he represented the South Korean national baseball team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic finishing in second place and the 2010 Asian Games winning the gold medal.
Ryu Hyun-jin made his Major League Baseball debut in 2013 with 14 consecutive wins and continued his outstanding performance through 2014 as the starting pitcher for the MLB Los Angeles Dodgers. After having shoulder surgery early this year, he is currently focusing on his rehabilitation program in order to come back and play for the League next season.
POCOG has so far appointed a total of 13 Honorary Ambassadors including Kim Yuna (Figure skating gold medalist) and Lee Minho (K-Wave star actor), Lindsey Vonn (Olympic Alpine Skiing Champion) and Choo Shin-soo (Major League Baseball Outfielder). With the participation of Ryu Hyun-jin as the 14th Honorary Ambassador, POCOG aims to promote the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 to baseball fans worldwide.
About POCOG
The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) will host the XXIII edition of the Olympic Winter Games on 9-25 February 2018. Over 80 countries and 6,000 athletes are expected to take part in the first Olympic Winter Games to be held in Asia in 20 years. Seven sports comprising 15 disciplines will be on the official program.
The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games will take place on 9-18 March 2018, with approximately 50 countries and 690 athletes competing. Five sports are on the Paralympic program.